Slow rural broadband speeds need urgent attention, says MSP

Greater efforts must be made to make sure people across Perth and Kinross and Stirling are not left in the broadband slow lane, a local MSP has said.

Speeds in Stirling are the 11th worst in the UK, with Perth and Kinross not faring much better with a ranking of 46.

Rural areas of Scotland feature at the bottom of the UK list, with the three slowest speeds all found north of the border.

Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser is calling for this latest league-table of failure to act as a wake-up call.

He believes efforts to connect hard-to-reach communities have fallen way below what should be expected.

Mr Fraser said: “In Perth and Kinross there is a divide between the services people receive in urban and rural areas.

“Broadband performance in Perth and Kinross is better than Stirling but in each area it is some way below what we should expect in the 21st Century.

“It is time that people across Mid-Scotland and Fife had faster and more reliable internet connections

“The new Stirling city deal has just been signed and a key part of this are plans for a digital district to foster economic growth.

“Ensuring rural and urban Stirlingshire residents have access to fast internet connections will be central to future economic success and it is about time the area had better infrastructure.”

The new analysis was carried out by consumer champion Which?.

It is gathering evidence to present to the UK Government.